The Role of Freight Transportation in Economic Competitiveness: Summary of the 8th University Transportation Centers Spotlight Conference

In December 2014, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) hosted a conference entitled, “The Role of Freight Transportation in Economic Competitiveness,” in Washington, D.C. This meeting was the eighth in a series of Spotlight Conferences funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program. The conference attracted 84 participants. Agency personnel responsible for freight transportation, system resiliency, responding to disasters and extreme weather events, and addressing energy sector developments joined faculty, students, and researchers from UTCs and other universities to explore the role of freight in economic competitiveness. Representatives from industries and trade associations also participated in the conference. The conference, which was characterized by broad and active participation and discussion, considered potential research to help improve supply chain operations, enhance transportation system resiliency, and address energy sector transportation needs. The conference began with an overview of trends in global trade and a national perspective on transportation and economic competitiveness. Plenary sessions highlighted modal perspectives on freight supply chains and economic competitiveness, transportation system resiliency, energy sector developments and economic competitiveness, and global freight supply-chain issues. Conference participants also had the opportunity to interact with poster authors and to discuss issues and areas for further research in breakout groups. Speakers in the closing plenary session highlighted the key issues, opportunities, and research needs discussed in the breakout sessions. These proceedings consist of presentation summaries from the plenary sessions and the poster abstracts provided by the authors.